Facsimile to E-mail communication system with local interface

ABSTRACT

A fax to E-mail system and related method are shown, whereby a hardcopy document is sent via a fax device to its recipient via electronic mail through a data network (such as the Internet), and is delivered in such a manner that it can be retrieved by the recipient at an E-mail device, in the ordinary course of retrieving the E-mail, and displayed on the screen of the E-mail device. The invention provides for and accomplishes the delivery of a document, which begins as a hardcopy, as an electronic file retrieved through E-mail recipient&#39;s terminal and displayed on the computer screen of the E-mail recipient&#39;s terminal. The system and method also provides for an interface device which connects to a conventional fax device for communicating E-mail addresses and routing hardcopy documents to the E-mail network. The invention provides a means for embedding the functions of the interface device into conventional fax devices. The system can also be used in cooperation with Internet Web service for reporting, accounting, information services, and user interaction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. Application Serial No.08/915,196, filed on Aug. 20, 1997, which is a Continuation-In-Part ofU.S. Patent Application 08/839,655, filled on Apr. 15, 1997.

This application claims the benefit to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 60/028,405, filed on Oct. 15, 1996, and U.S. Provisional ApplicationSer. No. 60/048,064, filed on May 30, 1997.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of communicationsassociated with the communication of facsimile messages and associatedwith the uniting of traditionally distinct message delivery systems suchas facsimile delivery and electronic mail delivery.

The popularity of the quick and easy facsimile delivery of messages andthe popularity of low cost delivery of messages via electronic mail(also referred to as "E-mail") massaging systems have for quite sometime enticed attempts to mingle the two technologies, and efforts havebecome even more fervent in the wake of the recent explosive increase inuse of the global computer data network known as the "Internet". Anearly attempt to mingle facsimile and Email message deliverytechnologies is represented by the Facsimile Transmission System of U.S.Pat. No. 4,941,170 (Herbst). Herbst appears to show a system which usesan E-mail system to route a facsimile file between controllersassociated with the E-mail network in order to accomplish, in the endresult, a facsimile input and a facsimile output. U.S. Pat. No.4,837,798 (Cohen, et al.) discloses a system whose stated goal is toprovide a single, "unified" electronic mailbox for storing eithermessages or notification of the existence of messages of differenttypes. Cohen, et al. does mention the integration of facsimile mailmessages, but does not appear to clearly discuss how the system wouldhandle such fax messages. U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,156 (Ishii) discloses asystem where a data communication center and a facsimile mail center arelinked in a manner to accomplish the delivery of E-mail messages by wayof facsimile, but not visa versa. At the same time, the facsimileindustry has seen a growth in the use of interactive communication withremote store and forward facilities ("SAFF") for storage in a "faxmailbox" in digital image form and managed delivery of facsimilemessages, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,203 (Gordon, et al.);and further, the art includes the use of locally appended devices to thesending fax device to intercept commands and route facsimile messages,in facsimile form, to a remote SAFF for subsequent delivery to adestination facsimile device, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,100Bloomfield, et al. Each of the above-mentioned references appearsdedicated to the ultimate delivery of the message to a destination faxmachine or fax capable device such as an equipped personal computer("PC") .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly described, the present invention comprises a fax to E-mailsystem and related method whereby a facsimile transmission is sent toits recipient via electronic mail (such as through the "Internet")rather than via another facsimile machine, and is delivered in such amanner that it can be retrieved by the recipient at his/her E-maildevice, in the ordinary course of retrieving the E-mail, and viewed onthe screen of the E-mail device. The invention provides for andaccomplishes the delivery of a document, which begins as a hardcopy, asan electronic file retrieved through an E-mail recipient's terminal andread at the computer screen of the E-mail recipient's terminal.

The system of the present invention includes, in its most preferredapparatus and method embodiments, among other elements, a "localinterface" and a remotely located Facsimile/E-mail server system(FEM-GATEWAY) which cooperate to provide a Facsimile/E-mail servicewhereby hardcopy information, including textual and/or graphicalportions, is communicated between a facsimile device and an E-maildevice, while still allowing conventional operation of the facsimiledevice. More specifically, the present invention comprises apparatus andmethods for the input of an E-mail address locally to a facsimilemachine, for directing the transmission of the image to a remotelylocated FEM-GATEWAY, for receiving and converting data representative ofan image scanned by the facsimile device (referred to herein asfacsimile information) into a computer-readable data file formatted inan image data file format, for creating an addressed E-mail message towhich the computer-readable data file is attached, and for deliveringthe E-mail and attachment to a desired recipient over a data networksuch as a global computer network, such as the "Internet".

In its preferred embodiments, the interface device of the presentinvention uniquely receives an alphanumeric E-mail address, displayingthe address for verification by the user, is specially configured tocommand the FEM-GATEWAY to transmit a fax document via E-mail, andconveys an E-mail address and fax message (through the attached faxdevice) to the FEM-GATEWAY. The interface device allows any pre-existingfax machine to function as the sending machine of the invented system,with no modification to the fax machine itself. The present invention'shandling of the fax message by converting the message to acomputer-readable image file and attaching it to a system generatedE-mail message, and the system's cooperative interaction between theinterface device and the FEM-GATEWAY uniquely allow the presentinvention to accomplish its intended goal of delivering fax messages viathe E-mail system. In at least one alternate embodiment, the functionsof the interface device are embedded into a conventional fax device.

The present invention bridges two networks, interacting first in thetelephone network (PTN) to transmit as telephony signals a facsimilemessage to the FEM-GATEWAY and then interacting in the E-mail network(through the "Internet" or other data networks) to deliver an E-mailmessage to its intended E-mail address. A sender wishing to send afacsimile message selectively activates the interface device locallyassociated with the sending fax machine which results in the fax beingsent differently than a normal fax transmission. In accordance with thepreferred embodiments, the interface device initiates a connectionthrough the PTN to a server at a remote FEM-GATEWAY, and the interfacedevice interacts with that server to generate and deliver to theintended recipient's E-mail address an E-mail message to which isattached the facsimile document formatted as a computer-readable imagefile compatible with the recipient's E-mail terminal.

Numerous features, objects and advantages of the present invention inaddition to those mentioned or implied above, will become apparent uponreading and understanding this specification, read in conjunction withthe appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile-to-electronic mailcommunication system according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a Fax-Server of the system depicted in FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the process and data architecture of E-mailserver depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of an E-mail message in accordancewith the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an example of a recipient viewed message portion of an E-mailmessage generated and forwarded in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a fax interface device of the systemdepicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a facsimile-to-electronic mailcommunication system according to an alternative embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart depicting an overview of a preferred method ofthe present invention.

FIG. 9A is a flow chart of the front end process depicting thefacsimile-to-electronic mail communication system waiting for userinput.

FIG. 9B is a flow chart of the front end process depicting thefacsimile-to-electronic mail communication system interfacing with thefax server.

FIG. 9C is a flow chart of the front end process depicting thefacsimile-to-electronic mail communication system receiving a messagefrom the FEM-GATEWAY.

FIG. 10 is a chart displaying a column of alphanumeric and othercharacters with suffixes commonly encountered in E-mail addresses usedby the present invention.

FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram of a fax interface device user keypad.

FIG. 11A is a flowchart of the COMCON process in accordance with thepreferred method of the present invention.

FIG. 11B is a flowchart of the COMCON process in accordance with thepreferred method of the present invention specifically illustrating thecheck sum matching process.

FIG. 11C is a flowchart of the COMCON process in accordance with thepreferred method of the present invention specifically illustrating theend of signal determination process.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a SENDMAIL process in accordance with thepreferred method of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of a facsimile-to-electronic mailcommunication system according to an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention, including a combined unit fax/fax-to-e-mail sending device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Refer now in greater detail to the drawings in which like numeralsrepresent like components throughout the several views and in whichlower letter reference numeral suffixes differentiate similar componentsreferred to collectively without such suffixes. FIG. 1 displays aFacsimile-to-Electronic mail communication system 100 (also referred toherein as a "Fax/E-mail communication system 100") comprising afacsimile interface device 102 (also referred to herein as "faxinterface device 102"), having a keypad 342, and a Facsimile-to-E-mailserver 104 (also referred to herein as a "FEM-GATEWAY 104"). The faxinterface device 102 is associated with a fax device 106, and bothdevices 102, 106 connect to the FEM-GATEWAY 104 through a commoncommunication line 107 (also sometimes referred to herein as "fax phoneline 107" or as "fax line 107") and the telephone network (PTN) 108. Inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, thecommon communication line 107 is a central office ("CO") telephone linehaving dial tone generated thereon and having tip and ring capabilitiesall generated and managed by a local exchange carrier central office ofthe telephone network 108. Note that "PTN" is a common designationconsidered to be generally understood by those skilled in thetelecommunications industry as including any number of local exchangecarrier central offices, access tandems, long distance toll offices, andother telecommunication switching systems.

In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the faxinterface device 102 is connected by an accessory line 109 (which, inthe preferred embodiment is a standard telephone cable) to the standard"telephone out" RJ-11 jack 113 (also, sometimes referred to as the"accessory jack" 113) of a standard fax device 106 (for example,conventional stand alone fax machine or multifunction machine with faxcapabilities). Alternatively, the accessory line 109' by-passes theaccessory jack 113 and connects at, for example, a line splitter 117,directly to the common communication line 107. As would be understood byone skilled in the art, this places the fax interface device 102 "online" with the fax device 106 such that both the fax interface device102 and fax device 106 are serviced in what might be termed a "parallelrelationship" by the same communication line 107 to the public network108.

The FEM-GATEWAY 104 comprises a Fax-Server 110, a Web Server 111, anE-mail-server 112, and a data network 114. The Fax-Server 110 connectsto the E-mail-server 112, and a data network 114. The Fax-Server 110connects to the data network 114 which includes, in accordance with thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, use of a TCP/IP protocolrunning on Ethernet hardware and includes, but is not limited torouters, hubs, cabling, and other hardware and software necessary forproper connection to the E-mail network and to the E-mail server). Itshould be understood that the scope of the present invention includesother data networks 114, including local and wide area data networkswhich utilize other network protocols and network hardware. TheE-mail-server 112 connects to an E-mail network 116 (i.e., a networksuch as the Internet, a satellite network, a cable network, a telephonynetwork, a wireless network, or other data network) which enables thecommunication of electronic mail (referred to herein as "E-mail") to anE-mail device 118. An E-mail interface device 120 (including, forexample and not limitation, hardware and software systems known asE-mail servers) (hereinafter also referred to as E-mail server 120)connects the E-mail device 118 to the E-mail network 116 and, hence, tothe gateway E-mail-server 112 through the E-mail network 116. The WebServer 111 connects to Fax-Server 110, gateway E-Mail-server 112, anddata network 114, and hence to the E-mail network 116. It should beunderstood that the connecting lines shown in FIG. 1 represent manytypes of communication links, including standard telephone lines, datacommunication networks, wireless communication networks, cablecommunication networks, or other networks. As will be understood bythose skilled in the art, a user of the E-mail network 116 is providedwith an "e-mail address" which corresponds to an electronic "mailbox""associated with" the user and residing on the E-mail server 120 orelsewhere along the E-mail network.

While only one fax device 106 and only one fax interface device 102 areshown in FIG. 1, the fax device 106 and the fax interface device 102are, respectively, representative of a plurality of fax devices 106 anda plurality of fax interface devices 102 wherein each fax device 106 ofthe plurality of fax devices 106 is associated with a single faxinterface device 102 of the plurality of fax interface devices 102. Itshould be understood that the plurality of fax devices 106 includes anyfax-capable device, including for example and not limitation,conventional facsimile machines, multi-function machines which canoperate as fax machines, or image scanners which can operate as faxsending devices.

It should be noted that while only one E-mail device 118 and only oneE-mail server 120 are shown in FIG. 1, the E-mail device 118 and E-mailserver 120 are, respectively, representative of a plurality of E-maildevices 118 and a plurality of E-mail servers 120 wherein each E-maildevice 118 of the plurality of E-mail devices 118 is associated with asingle E-mail server 120 of the plurality of E-mail servers 120. Inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, theE-mail devices 118 comprise personal computers which execute softwareprograms (including, for example and not limitation, software programsknown in the industry as "browsers" and "E-mail readers"--sometimescollectively referred to herein as "E-mail browsers") that enable anE-mail recipient to receive E-mail delivered to the recipient via theE-mail network 116, to display E-mail messages and image data files, andoptionally, to print E-mail messages and image data files on a connectedprinter. It should be understood that E-mail devices 118 include allsorts of stationary and portable, local and network, computer-relateddevices executing software programs that provide E-mail communicationand display capabilities. It should also be understood that E-mailservers 120 include, for example and not limitation, hardware, software,communication programs, analog communication interfaces, digitalcommunication interfaces, optical communication interfaces, wired andwireless communication interfaces, cable communication interfaces,various modems, and other E-mail communication enabling hardwareadapters and software programs located either on the user's premises orlocated in the network or both. Furthermore, it should be understoodthat the scope of the present invention includes E-mail servers 120which consist of units separate from their associated E-mail devices 118and E-mail servers 120 which are incorporated into their associatedE-mail devices 118.

FIG. 2 displays, in a block diagram representation, the Fax-Server 110according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. TheFax-Server 110 comprises a plurality of fax/data communicationinterfaces 130 which connect to the PN 108 through a PTN trunk 132 andto a bus 134 for interchange of signals with other components of theFax-Server 110. Preferably, the PTN trunk 132 is a standard T-1 digitalcommunication link providing multiplexed, encoded carrier service. Thefax/data communication interfaces 130 provide a plurality of fax anddata communication channels for communication of data between theFax-Server 110 and fax interface devices 102. Each fax/datacommunication interface 130 is capable of performing a variety offunctions on each fax communication channel including, for example:answering a phone line; hanging-up a phone line; dialing a phone number;sending fax data; receiving fax data; sending data signals; receivingdata signals; generating DTMF (dual tone multi-frequency) tones;detecting DTMF tones; receiving ANI (automatic numberidentification--the number from which a caller initiates a call) andDNIS (dialed number identification service--the number dialed by thecaller) information via, preferably, for example, Feature Group D;playing voice messages; and, converting voice signals between analog anddigital formats. An example of a fax/data communication interface 130,acceptable in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, is a model VFX40ESC voice/fax/modem communication interfaceavailable from Dialogic of Parsippany, N.J. It should be understood thatthe connecting lines shown in FIG. 2 represent many types ofcommunication links, including direct links defined by direct contactbetween components and indirect links defined by various cables, wires,etc.

Other components of the Fax-Server 110 shown in FIG. 2 include: acentral processing unit (CPU) 136 with random access memory (RAM); amass storage 140 which provides program and data storage (includingstorage of fax image data and information received from a fax device 106connected to and communicating with the Fax-Server 110; a video display146, keyboard 150, and power supply 152--all of the foregoing componentsconfigured and inter-operating in a manner that will be clearlyunderstood by one skilled in the art.

The Fax-Server 110, as seen in FIG. 2, also includes a data networkinterface 154 by which the Fax-Server 110 exchanges data with the datanetwork 114, via cable 156, to enable communication of data between theFax-Server 110 and the E-mail-Server 112. The data network interface 154performs the signal conditioning and format conversions which arenecessary to communicate data through the data network 114. A datanetwork interface 154, acceptable in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the present invention, is a model SMC9332DST availablefrom Standard Microsystems Corporation of Hauppauge, N.Y., which iscompatible with the 100Base T Ethernet standard and the TCP/IP protocol.It should be understood that the scope of the present invention includesother data network interfaces 154 including, for example and withoutlimitation, wired and wireless data network interfaces, analog datanetwork interfaces, digital data network interfaces, optical datanetwork interfaces, and data network interfaces compatible with otherhardware and software standards and protocols.

The Fax-Server 110 monitors its fax/data communication channels for acall from a fax interface device 102. Upon receiving such a call on itsfax/data communication channel, the Fax-Server 110 services the call by,among other tasks: verifying (against a stored list of valididentification codes of fax interface devices 102) that the call is tobe processed; receiving from the fax interface device 102, an E-mailaddress associated with a desired recipient of a document; optionallyreceiving information identifying the sender; receiving fax image datarepresentative of the document to be communicated to the desiredrecipient; optionally preparing and forwarding a confirmation (i.e., afax document comprising a single page having text which indicates thatthe recipient's E-mail address and the fax image data representing thedocument were received by the Fax-Server 110) to the fax device 106;and, preparing and forwarding an E-mail message 270 (see FIG. 4), havingan E-mail message portion 272 and an attached image data file 274including data representative of the document, to the E-mail-Server1112. The Fax-Server 110 processes the fax image data received from afax device 106, along with information received from the fax interfacedevice 102, and converts the fax image data to image data (hereinaftersometimes referred to as the "formatted image data") formatted in anyone of several industry-standard formats for images or bit-mappedgraphic images, including, for example and not limitation, formats suchas "GIF" "PCX", "DCX" "TIFF", and "BMP", "JPEG", "PNG", "AWD".

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention,the Fax-Server 110 is programmed to convert fax image data received fromall of the plurality of fax devices 106 which deliver to the Fax-Serverinto the same, pre-selected industry-standard format, as selected by theadministrator of the FEM-GATEWAY 104. It is intended, as part of thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, that the selected formatinto which the Fax-Server 110 is preferably programmed to convert faximage data is a format which will be automatically compatible with majorE-mail readers and browsers available on the market at a given period oftime. Thus, at the time of the writing of this disclosure, the preferredformat is the "TIFF format". In accordance with the preferredembodiments of the present invention, the selected format into which thefax image data is to be converted is periodically changed (and theFax-Server 110 processes appropriately modified) by the administrator tobe compatible with the automatic de-coding and re-assembling softwareutilized by, for example, a majority (or selected plurality) of browsersand E-mail readers on the "then current" market for E-mail devices 118.

Thus, in accordance with the preferred methods of the present invention,the Fax-Server 104, upon receiving a fax message delivered from a faxdevice 106, automatically converts the received fax image data to a TIFFformatted file, naming the TIFF file with the appropriate ".TIF" fileextension.

FIG. 3. displays, in a block diagram representation, the E-mail Server112 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. TheE-mail Server comprises an E-mail network interface 200 which connectsto the E-mail network 116 through a communication link 202 and to a bus204 for interexchange of signals with other components of the E-mailServer 112. Preferably, the communication link 202 is a standardEthernet communication link providing high-speed TCP/IP communicationcarrier services. The E-mail network interface 200 is capable ofmultiplexed, encoded communication exchanges to the E-mail network. TheE-mail Server 112 is considered readily understood by those skilled inthe art and performs, as is critical to the present invention, functionsof receiving the addressed E-mail with attachment (the E-mail message270) and routing the E-mail message to the appropriate network addressalong the E-mail network 116, using, for example, TCP/IP and appropriatedomain addressing and domain name services. FIG. 3 further schematicallydepicts other basic components of a standard E-mail Server including adata network interface 224 through which the E-mail Server interactswith the data network 114, a central bus 204, CPU with RAM memory 206,mass storage 210, a video display 216, keyboard 220, and power supply222--all of the foregoing components being configured andinter-operating in a manner that will be clearly understood by oneskilled in the art. Though deemed unnecessary in light of the relevantskill in the art, the following are given by way of example asacceptable components of the E-mail Server 112: E-mail network interface200 as a model 1400FXSA modem available from Practical Peripherals, Inc.of Thousand Oaks, Calif.; data network interface 224 as a modelSMC9332DST available from Standard Microsystems Corporation ofHauppauge, N.Y. which is compatible with the 100BaseT Ethernet Standardand the TCP/IP protocol; and "Microsoft Exchange Mail" or "UNIXSENDMAIL" operating on the CPU 206. In alternate embodiments of thepresent invention, all or some of the E-mail functions of the gatewayE-mail Server 112 are incorporated as part of and performed by theFax-Server 110. Furthermore, in alternate embodiments, the data network114 is simply the bus of a single PC which hosts the appropriatehardware and software of both the Fax-Server 110 and the E-mail Server112, and the CPU/RAM, storage, video, keyboard and power supply arecommon, all as would be understood to one skilled in the art. Furtherexplanation of the E-mail Server 112 is deemed not necessary as theappropriate hardware, software and operation thereof is considered wellknown to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 4 displays a schematic representation of an E-mail message 270 inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. TheE-mail message 270 comprises a message portion 272, described below, andattached image data file 274. The attached image data file 274 includesimage data representative of the document being communicated, viaE-mail, from the sender's fax machine 106 to the recipient's E-maildevice 118 by the FAX/E-mail communication system 100. The image datastored in the attached image data file 274 is, preferably, thepreviously mentioned formatted image data, and, as previously mentioned,preferably in a selected format of wide compatibility with then currentbrowsers and E-mail readers.

The message portion 272, of the E-mail message 270 is generated by theFax-Server 110 and forwarded to the gateway E-mail Server 112 fordelivery to the E-mail network 116. The message portion 272 comprises aplurality of information which corresponds to that same informationdisplayed in the message portion 272' depicted in FIG. 5. The messageportion 272' is depicted in FIG. 5 in an exemplary manner as it wouldappear on the user's screen at the E-mail device 118, and shall bereferred to sometimes herein as the recipient viewed message portion272', as distinguished from the Fax-Server 110 generated message portion272. The exemplary recipient viewed message portion 272', comprises aheader portion 276, a body id portion 280, and an attachment portion,284. The header portion 276 of the recipient viewed message portion 272'includes a plurality of descriptive text labels and associated fields. A"TO" field 282, adjacent to a "To" descriptive text label 283, indicatesthe E-mail address of the intended recipient of the E-mail message 270as input by the sender using the keypad 342 of the fax interface device102. The recipient viewed message portion 272' includes a "FROM" field286, adjacent a "From:" descriptive text label 288, which indicatesgenerically, the sender's identity as known to the Fax/E-mailcommunication system 100. (For example, the name of the identity wherethe sender's fax device 106 and fax interface device 102 are located). Apreferred alternative embodiment which is optional to the sender asinput by the sender using the keypad 342 of the fax interface device 102is to include beside the sender's generic identity in text field 286,the name of the individual sender as known to the Fax/E-mailcommunication system 100. A "REPLY TO" field 290, adjacent a "Reply To:"descriptive text label 292 provides an E-mail address of the FEM-GATEWAY104 and a transaction code associated with the sender's fax interfacedevice 102 which code is generated by the FEM-GATEWAY system for jobtracking and problem reporting. The recipient viewed message portion272' also includes a "SUBJECT" field 294, adjacent a "Subject:"descriptive text label 296, which contains a notice to the recipientthat the E-mail message 270 includes an incoming fax as an attachedimage file.

The body portion 280 of the exemplary recipient viewed message portion272', as seen in FIG. 5, includes text 300 which provides advertisingand instructs the recipient of the E-mail message 270 on how to view theattached image data file 274 (i.e. document). The text 300 alsoinstructs the recipient on how to access additional information aboutthe services provided through the communication system 100, including,if required, how to receive a compatible viewer software program capableof displaying the attached image data file 274. The body portion 280includes, in this displayed embodiment, a link 297 to a location alongthe E-mail network 116, such as an HTML link 297 which references andenables access to an Internet web page where information and access toviewer software is available to the recipient. The use of an "HTLM link"as a reference to a protocol used to interface to Internet web pages isconsidered to be well-known to those skilled in the art. The use of a"web page" as a reference to a communications medium as associated withthe Internet global computer network is considered to be well-known tothose skilled in the art.

The attachment portion 284 of the exemplary recipient viewed messageportion 272', as seen in FIG. 5, includes a "handle" 298 whichreferences and enables access to the image data file 274 attached to themessage portion 272. The handle 298 is that assigned by the browser ofthe E-mail device 118 at the time that the attachment is downloaded byand stored at the E-mail device. The use of a "handle" as a reference toa file is considered to be well-known to those skilled in the art. Theimage data file 274, as noted, includes a representation of the documentsent by the sender for receipt by the recipient of the E-mail message270. A descriptive textual portion 299, adjacent to the handle portion298, provides informative data to the recipient regarding the type,encoding scheme, description, and other information relative to theattachment 274.

The information and data used to populate the "fields" 282, 286, 290, ofthe header portion 276, as well as the text 300 and link data 297 of thebody portion 280, as well as the informative data found in the textualportion 299 is all information and data received by the Fax-Server 110during steps 1034 and 1036 of the process described below (see FIG. 1A)and/or generated at step 1074 of the process (see FIG. 11C), and is thatinformation and data which constitutes the message portion 272 of theE-mail message 270 depicted in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6. displays a block diagram representation of a fax interfacedevice 102 in accordance with the apparatus of the preferred embodimentof the present invention. The device performs a variety of functionsincluding accepting inputs at the keypad 342, displaying information ata Display 344, interfacing to the communication line 107, and engagingin interactive communications with the FEM-GATEWAY 104.

The fax interface device 102 comprises telephony circuitry 320 whichconnects to and interacts with DSP circuitry 322 and Codec circuitry 321to provide telephony interface support. The Telephony Circuitry connectsthrough a phone line surge protector 326, a phone line coupler 332 andthe accessory telephone line 109 to the communication line 107, whichalso connects to a fax device 106. As mentioned earlier, the faxinterface device 102 is preferably connected (in "parallel relationship"with the fax device 106) to the common communication line 107 throughconnection to the accessory RJ-11 jack 113 of a standard fax machine orfax modem, and, alternatively, through connection of accessory telephoneline 109 via splitter 117 to communication line 107.

The Codec circuitry 321 connects to the telephony circuitry 320 and tothe DSP circuitry 322, performing analog to digital conversions for tonegeneration and detection. An example of this Codec is a TexasInstruments TCM29C16 available from Texas Instruments, located inHouston Tex.

The DSP circuitry 322, according to the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, comprises a Digital Signal Processor with integratedflash memory for program storage, RAM for temporary data storage, aCodec interface for audio input and output, and an expansion bus toconnect other needed peripherals. An example of this DSP is a TexasInstruments TMS320F206 available from Texas Instruments in Houston, Tex.

The DSP circuitry 322 is connected to serial nonvolatile memory, NVRam323, to the Display 344 comprised, for example, of a Liquid CrystalDisplay (LCD) with built-in controller, and to the keypad (FIG. 10a) 342comprising a standard telephony-styled DTMF keypad and custom controlbuttons. The NVRam 323 performs memory functions such as storage ofE-mail addresses and serial number information regarding the interfacedevice 102. An example of this type of NVRAM is 24c65/sm-ND availablefrom Microchip Technology located in Chandler Ariz. An example of theDisplay is the DMC-24227NYU available from Optrex, located in Torrence,Calif.

The telephony circuitry 320 is connected to Codec 321, speaker 346, andto surge protection circuitry 326. The telephony circuitry 320 performsa variety of functions including ring detection, loop current, and onand off hook control. An example of this circuitry is the TS117available from CP Clare, located in Wakefield Mass. The Speaker 346provides line monitoring and program control audio feedback. An exampleof Speaker 346 as an amplifier is the LM380 available from NationalSemiconductor located in Santa Clara, Calif. The phone line coupler 332connects to the Surge protection 326 and provides a telephony jack forinterfacing to accessory telephone line 109 which is connected to faxdevice 106. An example of such a suitable coupler is 555979-1 from AMPIncorporated, located in Harrisburg, Pa. A power supply 341 connectsthrough power adapter 340 to a source of a AC power and suppliesnecessary power to the components of the interface device 102.

In a configuration and manner of operation that would be understood bythose skilled in the art, the telephony circuitry 320, Codec 321 and DSPcircuitry 322 cooperate and interact to perform the functions whichinclude, but are not limited to, those mentioned above. By way ofexample, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention: the Codec 321 connects to and communicates with the DSP 322through Codec signal bus 316; signal bus 318 carries analog signalswhich originate from a telephone company central office (i.e., part ofthe PTN 108) and which are received by the fax interface device 102through the accessory telephone line 109; the Codec 321 de-modulates theanalog signals and produces digital representations of the analogsignals which are communicated, through Codec signal bus 316, foranalysis by the DSP 322; the analog signals commonly include, forexample and not limitation, dial tone signals, DTMF signals and fax tonesignals; after the digital representations of the analog signals areanalyzed and identified by the DSP (according to programming storedwithin ROM memory of the DSP circuitry), the DSP determines whether ornot a response is necessary and, if so, determines the appropriateresponse to the analog signal; the DSP 322, to respond, generatesappropriate digital signals which are modulated by the Codec 321 toproduce analog signals which are output along signal bus 318 to thetelephone circuitry 320 and eventually to the fax line 107; according tothe preferred embodiment, the Codec 321 can modulate and de-modulateanalog signals in the Bell 202 communication format (which is a standardAT&T frequency shift key communication scheme) and in the V.21communication format (which is a standard CCITT Group 3 fax negotiationand control procedure).

As an example of the interaction between the Codec 321 and the DSPcircuitry 322, consider a sender wishing to communicate a document to adesired recipient via fax/E-mail, in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the present invention. Reference may be had here to theprocess charts and description related to FIGS. 9A-9C. In response tothe entry of the "GO" command at the fax interface device 102 by thesender, the fax interface device 102 and, hence, the DSP circuitry 322(according to step 924 (FIG. 9B) of the preferred method describedbelow) establishes a telephonic connection with the Fax-Server 110 bycalling the Fax-Server via telephone line 107. To do so, the DSPcircuitry 322 must monitor the signal bus 318 (which reflects theactivity on accessory phone line 109, which is the extension of fax line107) for the presence of an analog dial tone signal by analyzing digitalrepresentations (produced by the Codec 321 and communicated to the DSPcircuitry 322 through Codec signal bus 316) of the analog signals. Uponreceiving and identifying the dial tone signal, the DSP circuitry 322responds in accordance with programming residing in memory portions ofthe DSP circuitry to generate DTMF digits corresponding to the telephonenumber of the Fax-Server 110. After receiving digital representations ofthe digits of the telephone number from the DSP 322 through Codec signalbus 316, the Codec 321 modulates the digital data to produce theappropriate DTMF digits for output, through signal bus 318, to thetelephone circuitry 320 and, ultimately, to telephone line 107. Notethat the Codec 321 and the DSP circuitry 322 cooperate in many otherinstances, using similar hand-shaking methods, to communicate signals toand from the PTN 108 via telephone line 107 (and accessory line 109) inorder to provide the functionality necessary for the fax interfacedevice 102 and, hence, the Fax/E-mail communication system 100, tocommunicate documents to E-mail recipients.

According to an alternate embodiment of the present invention shown inFIG. 7, a fax interface device 102' and a fax device 106' connect to aprivate branch exchange (PBX) 115 before connecting to the PublicNetwork 108'. It will be understood that the common communication line107, in this alternate embodiment, is a PBX line providing dial tonegenerated at the PBX 115 and functioning, for purposes of the presentinvention, similarly to the CO line 107 of FIG. 1. It should beunderstood that the scope of this alternate embodiment of the presentinvention includes a fax interface device 102' incorporated into a PBX115. It should also be understood that the alternate embodiment of FIG.7 in a manner substantially similar to the preferred embodiment,comprises fax devices 106' including any fax-capable devices, includingfor example and not limitation, conventional facsimile machines,multi-function machines which can operate as fax machines, or imagescanners which can operate as fax sending devices.

In accordance with other alternate embodiments of the present invention,the Public Telephone Network 108 and E-mail network 116 are replaced byany of a variety of different interconnecting networks, including anycombination of public, private, switched, non-switched, wireline,non-wireline, digital, analog, in-band signaling, out-of-band signaling,voice, data, local or wide area networks. In addition, although DTMFsignaling and transfer of information through DTMF and data signalingformats are disclosed in the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, other alternate embodiments of the present invention includemethods and apparatus which accommodate signaling and transferring ofinformation through alternate signaling networks and formats, includingmodem communications, integrated services digital network (ISDN) andother out-of-band and in-band signaling methods, whereby signals andinformation are communicated between a FEM-GATEWAY 104 and a faxinterface device 102. According to still other alternate embodiments ofthe present invention, the apparatus of the Fax/E-mail communicationsystem 100 comprises a FEM-GATEWAY 104 which employs only one computerthat includes necessary hardware, and executes necessary programspresent on the Fax-Server 110 and the E-mail-Server 112 of the preferredembodiment of the present invention. In still other alternateembodiments of the present invention, the apparatus of the Fax/E-mailcommunication system 100 comprises multiple computers, which include thenecessary hardware and software present on the Fax-Server 110 of thepreferred embodiment, and multiple computers which include the necessaryhardware and software present on the E-mail-Server 112 of the preferredembodiment. It should be understood that it is within the scope of thepresent invention that indicated subsystems (servers 110, 112, 111) ofthe FEM-GATEWAY 104 are, acceptably, either geographically separated orgeographically co-located.

Represented in FIGS. 1 and 11, is a Web Server 111, 111'. The Web Server111, 111' is an optional computer (or computer based program) whichprovides user access to information regarding transactions processedthrough the FAX/E-mail communication system 100. The Web Servercommunicates with the Fax-Server 110 and the E-mail Server 112 over datanetwork 114. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, a WebServer provides access to users using computers connected to a datanetwork (such as the Internet) for the purpose of accessing informationfrom and interacting with computers connected directly or indirectly tothe Web Server. By way of example, the Web Server 111, 111' permits auser of the communications system 100 access to information on theiraccount such as accounting information, billing information, serviceinformation, as well as current and historical data on Fax-to-E-mailtransactions generated from the user's fax device 102. Additionally, theWeb Server permits a user to interact with the communication system 100to add, delete, or change user preferences. By way of example, a usercould change a passcode, or the priority of a pending Fax-to-E-mailmessage.

FIG. 8 displays an overview of a preferred method of the presentinvention and illustrates a plurality of steps which are necessary tocommunicate a hard-copy document (also referred to herein as a"document" and including any item which can be communicated by a faxdevice 106 or equivalent thereof) to a desired recipient using theFax/E-mail communication system 100 disclosed herein. The individualsteps of the method are performed by various elements, and combinationsof elements, of the system 100 working in concert and are detailed bythe figures that follow. After starting at step 800, the method proceedsto step 802 where the system 100 receives, from the sender of thedocument, an E-mail address which has been previously associated with,or assigned to, the desired recipient of the document and, optionally,saves the recipient's E-mail address for future use. According to thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, the recipient's E-mailaddress is input, or recalled from memory storage, to the system 100, bythe sender of the document through interaction with the telephone-stylekeypad 342 of the sender's fax interface device 102 connected to the PTN108. Continuing at step 804, the system 100 receives and saves fax imagedata which is generated by the sender's fax device 106 and whichrepresents the document to be communicated to the desired recipient viaE-mail. The fax image data is, typically, created by a rasterizingprocess performed at the sender's fax device 106 by hardware, bysoftware, or by cooperation between hardware and software and is,typically communicated in what is known as "G3 protocol", all of whichis well-known to those skilled in the art. Upon receiving and storingthe fax image data, the system 100, at step 806, provides an optionalconfirmation (sender selectable) to the sender which indicates that theE-mail address and fax image data have been received by the system 100.The confirmation is, for example, in the form of a single page which istransmitted by the FEM-GATEWAY 104 for receipt by the sender's faxdevice 106 as if the confirmation were a conventional fax documentreceived by the sender's fax device 106. An alternative manner ofproviding confirmation to the sender is to update the Web Server 111 ina manner that allows the sender of the original facsimile (who is aregistered user of the communication system 100) to access informationat the Web Server which will indicate the status of facsimile-to-E-mailmessages which that sender has sent through the system. Still otheralternative methods of sending confirmation are acceptable, such as, forexample, providing a notice of the successful delivery to a registeredsender's E-mail address. Advancing to step 808, the system 100 createsan E-mail message 270, addressed to the recipient at the previouslyreceived E-mail address, which includes a message portion 272 and anattached image data file 274 containing the previously received faximage data stored in an industrystandard format for storing graphicaldata. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, encoding of theattachment 274 is also performed at this step (as well as, optionally,the earlier mentioned image processing). The processes of attaching animage data file 274 to an E-mail message 270 (for example, compliantwith MIME encoding), of storing graphical data in industry-standardformats and encoding the file are considered to be well-known to thoseskilled in the art. At step 810, the system 100 delivers the E-mailmessage 270 to an E-mail network 116, with its associated image data inattached, preferably encoded, image data file 274, for delivery to theE-mail address associated with the recipient and included in the messageportion 272. Once the recipient receives the E-mail message 270, therecipient, at step 812, views the E-mail message 270, including itsmessage portion 272. Viewing of the attached document (represented bythe fax image data of the attached image data file 274), throughconventional use of an appropriate computer program known as "browser","viewer", or "e-mail reader" is accomplished, at least, by "clicking" onthe file attachment located in the handle portion 298 located in theattachment portion 284 of the message portion 272. (See discussion aboveregarding FIG. 5). After viewing of the E-mail message 270 by therecipient, the method ends at step 814. In accordance with the preferredembodiment of the present invention, because the attachment 274 has beenconverted to a widely popular image format (e.g., TIFF) which is,desirably, compatible with a majority of browsers and E-mail readers inthe then current market, and because the image data file isappropriately encoded, then, in accordance with the preferred embodimentof the present invention, viewing is accomplished by simply "clicking"on the file attachment handle portion 298 found in the attachmentportion 284 of the message portion 272 of the E-mail message 270). Whenthe E-mail device 118 is operating a browser or E-mail reader which isnot immediately compatible with the image data format/encoding intowhich the attachment has been converted/encoded, it is understood thatadditional user interaction will be necessary to appropriately decodethe attachment prior to viewing.

In order to enable Fax-to-E-mail service by performing some of thevarious steps of the plurality of steps described above with respect toFIG. 8, the fax interface device 102 of the present invention executes afront end process 830 and the Fax-Server 110 executes a process 1020,which shall be referred to herein as the COMCON process 1020. FIGS. 9and 11, respectively, display the front-end process 830 and the COMCONprocess 1020 in accordance with the preferred method of the presentinvention.

Referring now to FIG. 9A, the front-end process 830 starts at step 832and advances to step 834 where the fax interface device 102 shows anidle-time message on its display 344 while the fax interface device 102waits for a sender wishing to communicate a document to a recipient viaE-mail. (The idle-time message might include, for example, informationidentifying the manufacturer of the fax interface device 102,information instructing a user on how to send a document to a recipientvia E-mail, information advertising other available services, etc.) Atstep 836, the fax interface device 102 monitors the keypad 342 for inputactivity to detect input by a user and potential sender of aFax-to-E-mail document. Preferably, the Fax-to-E-mail command includesDTMF digits entered at the fax device's keypad 342; for example, entryof the keystrokes "A", or "QDial". (Refer, please, to FIG.10A forfurther keypad details). Next, at step 838, the fax interface device 102determines whether or not it has received input at the keypad 342. Ifinput has not been received by the fax interface device 102, thefront-end process 830 loops back to step 834 and again displays anidle-time message. If input has been received by the fax interfacedevice 102, the fax interface device 102, at step 840, prompts thesender for an E-mail address associated with the desired recipient of adocument by displaying prompt text, on display 344, which instructs thesender to enter an E-mail address for the recipient or to recall apreviously stored E-mail address from fax interface device 102 memory.After prompting the sender to enter an E-mail address, the fax interfacedevice 102 (at step 842) receives the characters of the E-mail addressinput by the sender, displays the characters, as they are received, ondisplay 344, and retains the E-mail address for future use (stored inmemory).

According to the preferred method of the present invention and aspreviously noted, an E-mail address associated with a desired recipientis input by the sender (at step 842), using the telephone-style keypad342 of the sender's fax interface device 102, after being prompted forthe recipient's E-mail address on a first row (or line) (e.g, the bottomline 334a) of display 344. Because the standard telephone keypad asrepresented by keypad 342 are restricted to 12 input keys 342a, multiplealphanumeric characters must be associated with each one of the 12available keys 342a to provide all characters required to create a validE-mail address. This is accomplished by associating characters with keys342a either in alphabetical, numeric, or common trait order such that asender can "spell" an E-mail address using the reduced-set keypad 342without limitation to the required character set. In accordance with thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, the sender enters therecipient's E-mail address using the fax interface device's keypad 342(FIG. 10A) and using the character association chart of FIG. 10 as aguide. FIG. 10 displays an association and sequence chart showing theavailable characters (Col. 1), the associated key (Col. 2), and theinput sequence to advance to the desired character (Col. 3). In additionto singular characters being associated with a particular key 342a,groups of characters commonly used in the creation of E-mail addressesare also associated with particular keys to simplify the steps requiredfor user input, and in addition, certain other groups of characters suchas, for example, email suffixes .com, .net, .gov, .org, .edu are storedin memory and associated with the EXT key 342g. Frequently dialeddomains, for example, aol.com. prodigy.com. netcom.com. worldnet.com arestored in memory and associated with the DOM key 342e. To advancethrough the available characters associated with a particular key, thesender repeatedly presses the desired key, without pause (timeout). Thecharacter in sequence associated with the key will be displayed on asecond line (e.g. the top line 344b) of display 344. Once a time-outoccurs, the fax interface device 102 will settle upon the selectedcharacter or group of characters, and will display the selectedcharacter and move to the next cursor position. This process permitsmultiple characters associated with the same key to be selected simplyby pausing momentarily between key presses for greater than theallowable timeout period. For example, to enter an "A", the senderpresses the "ABC1" key one time. To enter a "C" the sender presses the"ABC1" key three times. To enter "AC" the sender presses the "ABC1" keyone time, pauses one second, and presses the "ABC1" key three times.Continued pressing of a character key scrolls the characters in aendless-loop fashion. The BACK/CLR 342b is character destructive key anddeletes the last character input (or character group) and backspaces thecursor one position in sequence for each time the button is pressed.Pressing the BACK/CLR 342b button for extended time (2 seconds or more)deletes an entire entry and returns the user to the idle state conditionor can be used in deleting characters or groups of characters stored inmemory. QDIAL button 342c is used to store E-mail addresses which can berecalled rapidly from memory and eliminates the repetitive input ofcommonly used E-mail addresses during the addressing process. With thecursor at its first position on the display 344 of the fax interfacedevice 102, the fax interface device begins accepting keypad entries andeach time the sender waits more than the preset time (e.g., one second),the interface device records a "time-out". If the sender presses asingle key 342a repeatedly before there is a time-out, then the faxinterface device will select the respective character or character groupfrom the chart of FIG. 10 corresponding to the number of times the keywas pressed. The fax interface device will consider the address entry tobe complete when the sender has pressed the "GO" button 342d.

Upon completion of the entry of the E-mail address, the sender pressesthe "GO" button 342d on the keypad 342 to begin a process whereby theinterface device 106 interacts with the Fax-Server 110 of theFEM-GATEWAY 104 to forward the received E-mail address and toprecondition the FEM-GATEWAY system for delivery of the fax image datafrom the fax device 106. With further reference to FIGS. 9A-9C, once the"GO" command is received (see step 846), the interface device 102 goesoff-hook and dials the FEM-GATEWAY 104 (step 924). To facilitateinteraction between the Fax-Server 110 and the fax interface device 102,a process (see COMCON process 1020 of FIG. 11) executes on theFax-Server 110 which is complimentary to the following process executingon the fax interface device 102 and the two processes communicatethrough the fax line 107 (and accessory line 109), public network 108,communication link 132 and a fax communication interface 130, asdescribed below, to deliver to the Fax-Server 110 the E-mail addressassociated with the desired recipient. To that end, it can be seen thatsteps 924 through 950 of FIG. 9B-9C are complimentary to andinter-communicate with steps 1026 through 1057 of FIG. 11.

The fax interface device 102 continues its processing at step 926 wherethe fax interface device monitors the communications with the Fax-Server110 to determine whether or not an acknowledgment "ACK" as been receivedfrom the Fax-Server 110. If not, the process 830 branches to step 928where the fax interface device 102 determines whether or not a time-outcondition exists (ie., the fax interface device 102 has been waiting foran "ACK" for an excessive period of time). If the fax interface device102 has determined that a time-out condition exists, the fax interfacedevice 102 goes on hook, at step 930, without communicating therecipient's E-mail address nor the fax image data to the Fax-Server 110.If the fax interface device 102 determines, at step 928, that a time-outcondition does not exist, the front-end process 830 loops back to step926. If, at step 926, the fax interface device 102 detects an "ACK", theprocess 830 advances to step 932 where the fax interface device 102sends a Fax-to-E-mail command to the Fax-Server 110. Then, the faxinterface device 102 sends, at step 934, its unique identification code(ID) to the Fax-Server 110. Advancing to steps 936 and 938 of thefront-end process 830, the fax interface device 102 sends the recipientE-mail address, received previously from the sender, optionally, thesender's ID, and a check sum to the Fax-Server 110. At step 940, the faxinterface device 102 determines whether or not an "error-free ACK" hasbeen received from the Fax-Server 110 on fax line 107. If so, thefront-end process 830 continues at step 948 described below. If not, theprocess 830 branches to step 942 where the fax interface device 102determines whether or not an "error ACK" has been received from theFax-Server 110 on fax line 107 instead of an "error-free ACK". If thefax interface device 102 determines that a "error ACK" has been received(i.e., indicating that the Fax-Server 110 is requesting that the faxinterface device 102 re-send the fax-to-E-mail command, its ownidentification code, the recipient's E-mail address, and an associatedcheck sum), the front-end process 830 loops back to step 932. If the faxinterface device 102 determines that an "error ACK" has not beenreceived, then the process 830 moves to step 944 where the fax interfacedevice 102 determines whether or not a time-out condition has occurred.If not, the process 830 loops back to step 940 to continue waiting foran "ACK". If so, the fax interface device 102 goes on-hook and thefront-end process 830 returns to its "idle time".

According to the preferred method of the present invention, and as seenin FIG. 9C, the fax interface device 102, at step 948, receives amessage from the FEM-GATEWAY 104 to display the message "PRESS SEND ONFAX DEVICE NOW", and the message is displayed (see step 950) at the faxinterface device's display 344. Next, at step 952, the front-end process830 determines if there is a drop or absence of CO line current. Forexample, in the preferred embodiment where the fax interface device 102is connected by line 109 to the accessory phone RJ-11 jack on the faxdevice 106, then, in accordance with standard functioning procedures,the connection of the fax line 107 to the accessory line 109 will be"locked out" and the accessory line 109 will "go dead"--this is the"absence of CO line current" to be determined at step 952. If no CO linecurrent is detected, the process returns to "idle time". Alternately,for example, in an embodiment where the connection between accessoryline 109 and fax line 107 is not automatically locked-out by activationof the fax device 106 SEND command (e.g., connection of accessory line109' at line splitter 117), then step 952 is, for example, replaced bythe decision step of "detect fax tones?", and, if fax tones aredetected, the fax device 102 is placed on-hook and the process 830returns to "idle time" at step 834.

As mentioned above, a process referred to herein as the COMCON process1020 (see FIG. 11) executes on the Fax-Server 110; and, in accordancewith preferred embodiments of the invention, a separate COMCON process1020 services each fax communication channel of a fax communicationinterface 130 (see FIG. 2) of the Fax-Server 110 by communicating, in ahand-shaking manner, with a front-end process 830 (see FIGS. 9B, 9C) ofa fax interface device 102 when a sender attempts to communicate adocument via E-mail to a recipient.

FIGS. 11A-11C display a COMCON process 1020 in accordance with thepreferred method of the present invention. The COMCON process 1020 isstarted at step 1022. After starting, the COMCON process 1020 advancesto step 1024 where the fax communication interface 130 and faxcommunication channel associated with the COMCON process 1020 areinitialized. Then, at step 1026 of the COMCON process 1020, theFax-Server 110 determines whether or not an incoming telephone call hasbeen received from the public telephone network (PTN) 108 on the faxcommunication channel serviced by the COMCON process 1020. If theFax-Server 110 determines that no incoming call is present, the COMCONprocess 1020 loops back to step 1026 to continue waiting for an incomingcall. If the Fax-Server 110 determines that an incoming call is present,the COMCON process 1020 advances to step 1028 where the Fax-Server 110answers the incoming telephone call from a fax interface device 102.Next, at step 1030, the Fax-Server 110 sends an acknowledgment "ACK" tothe fax interface device 102 through the fax communication interface130, the public telephone network 108, and the fax line 107 (and theaccessory line 109). The "ACK" informs the fax interface device 102 thatthe Fax-Server 110 has received its telephone call and that theFax-Server 110 is ready to interact with the front-end process 830 ofthe fax interface device 102.

Once communication has been established with a calling fax interfacedevice 102, the COMCON process 1020 advances to step 1032 where, as seenin FIG. 11A, the Fax-Server 110 receives a fax-to-E-mail command fromthe fax interface device 102. Then, at step 1034, the Fax-Server 110receives the identification code of the calling fax interface device 102followed, at step 1036, by receipt of the E-mail address, and optionallythe sender ID as input by the sender on the fax interface device 102.Continuing at step 1038, the Fax-Server 110 receives a check sum fromthe fax interface device 102. Advancing to step 1040 (FIG. 11B) of theCOMCON process 1020, the Fax-Server 110 determines whether or not thecheck sum matches (ie., is okay) a check sum which it has computed basedupon the data received during steps 1032 through 1038. If the Fax-Server110 determines that the check sum is not okay (i.e., there was an errorduring communication with the fax interface device 102), the COMCONprocess 1020 branches to step 1042 where the Fax-Server 110 determineswhether or not a time-out condition exists (i.e., determines whether ornot a maximum number of re-send requests have been exceeded). If notime-out condition exists, the Fax-Server 110, at step 1044, sends a an"ERROR ACK" command to the fax interface device 102 to request that thefax interface device 102 re-send the data referred to in steps 1032through 1038 described above. The COMCON process 1020 then loops back tostep 1032. If the Fax-Server 110 determines, at step 1042, that atime-out condition exists, the COMCON process 1020 causes the faxcommunication interface 130 to go on-hook, thereby hanging-up thetelephone call from the fax interface device 102, before looping back tostep 1026.

Referring back to step 1040, if the Fax-Server 110 determines that thecheck sum is okay (i.e., there was no error during communication withthe fax interface device 102), the Fax-Server 110 determines, at step1048, whether or not the identification code received from the faxinterface device 102 is okay by comparing the received identificationcode with a list of fax interface device identification codes which arestored in a database of the Fax-Server 110. If the Fax-Server 110determines that the received identification code is not valid for anyfax interface device 102, the COMCON process 1020 branches to step 1050where the Fax-Server 110 determines whether or not a time-out conditionexists (i.e., determines whether or not a maximum number of re-sendrequests have been exceeded). If no time-out condition exists, theFax-Server 110, at step 1052, sends a an "ERROR ACK" command to the faxinterface device 102 to request that the fax interface device 102re-send the information received at steps 1032 through 1038. The COMCONprocess 1020 then loops back to step 1032. If the Fax-Server 110determines, at step 1050, that a time-out condition exists, the COMCONprocess 1020 causes the fax communication interface 130 to go on-hook,thereby hanging-up the telephone call from the fax interface device 102,before looping back to step 1026.

If, at step 1048, the Fax-Server 110 determines that the identificationcode of the fax interface device 102 is okay, the COMCON process 1020advances to step 1056 where the Fax-Server 110 sends an "ERROR FREE ACK"to the fax interface device 102 to indicate to the fax interface device102 that it has received a fax-to-E-mail command, a valid fax interfacedevice identification code, and an E-mail address associated with adesired E-mail recipient. The Fax-Server 110 then, at step 1057, sends acommand to the fax interface device 102 to display the message "PressSend on Fax Device Now" on the display 344, which instructs the senderto initiate communications with the Fax-Server by pressing the "SEND"(or "START", etc.) button on the fax device 106. The Fax-Server 110then, at step 1058, sends fax tones along the fax line 107 to the faxdevice 106 and receives fax data from the fax device 106 at step 1060.

Continuing at step 1062 (FIG. 11C), the Fax-Server 110, in accordancewith the COMCON process 1020, determines whether or not it has receivedan end-of-fax signal from the fax device 106 connected to the faxcommunication channel 132 supported by the COMCON process 1020. If noend-of-fax signal has been received, the Fax-Server 110 continues tostore the fax data, in its native format (G3) as fax image data in adatabase on the Fax-Server 110, until such time that either an error oran end of fax signal has been received. The COMCON process 1020 thenloops back to step 1060 where the Fax-Server 110 continues to receivefax data from the fax device 106. If the Fax-Server 110 determines, atstep 1062, that it has received an end-of-fax signal, the COMCON process1020 advances to step 1066 where the Fax-Server 110 acknowledgesreceiving the end-of-fax signal from the fax device 106. In accordancewith the preferred method of the present invention, the COMCON process1020, as seen in FIG. 11C, continues at step 1068 where the Fax-Server110 COMCON process hangs up the fax communications interface 130 andthereby terminates the call with the fax device 106. The process 1020continues at step 1070 where the Fax-Server 110 stores the E-mailaddress sent by the sender of fax interface device 106 in a database onFax-Server 110. Then at step 1072 the Fax-Server 110 processes thestored fax images received from fax device 106 by converting the imagesto the formatted image data, being, as mentioned earlier, in a standardimage data format for viewing on an E-mail terminal screen. Copies ofthe converted fax image (the formatted image data) are stored inrespective databases on Fax-Server 110. Then, at step 1074, theFax-Server 110 generates and stores in a database on the Fax-Server anE-mail message portion 272 to accompany the fax image data. The process1020 advances to step 1076 where the Fax-Server 110 retrieves themessage portion 272 and the fax image data from the respective databaseson the Fax-Server 110. Then, at step 1078, the Fax-Server 110 attachesthe formatted fax image data file 274 to the E-mail message portion 272and, preferably, encodes the packaged E-mail message 270 an encodingtechnique acceptable for the intended E-mail network 116. For examplebut not limitation, the packaged message 270 with message portion 272and attachment portion 274 is encoded using Internet MIME formatting,thereby creating a MIME E-mail message 270. MIME, or Multi-purposeInternet Mail Extensions, defines the protocol for the Interexchange oftext and multi-media E-mail via the Internet (global computer network)and is considered well-known to those reasonably skilled in the art.Continuing at step 1080, the Fax-Server 110 sends the E-mail message 270to the E-mail server 112 and to the SENDMAIL process 1120 (FIG. 12),over data network 114. After sending the E-mail message 270 to theSENDMAIL process 1120 through interprocess communication, the COMCONprocess 1020 invokes the SENDMAIL process 1120 on the E-mail server 112,and then the process 1020 ends at step 1084.

FIG. 12 displays a SENDMAIL process 1120 which executes on theE-mail-Server 112 in accordance with the preferred method of the presentinvention. Upon being invoked by the COMCON process 1020 at step 1082(FIG. 11), being step 1122 of FIG. 12, the SENDMAIL process 1120advances to step 1124 where it receives the E-mail message 270 from theCOMCON process 1020 via interprocess communication. Continuing at step1126, the SENDMAIL process 1120 directs the gateway E-mail-Server 112 tocommunicate the E-mail message 270 to the E-mail network 116. Then, atstep 1128, the SENDMAIL process 1120 ends.

By way of example but not limitation, in the preferred embodiment, steps1076-1084 of the COMCON process 1020 are performed in accordance withwhat is commonly known as the UNIX METAMAIL process, and the SENDMAILprocesses 1120 of FIG. 12 are performed in accordance with what iscommonly known as the UNIX SENDMAIL process. The UNIX METAMAIL and UNIXSENDMAIL processes are considered well-known to those skilled in the artand are considered to not require further explanation herein.

Once sent to the E-mail network 116, the E-mail message 270 is conveyedin accordance with the handling processes of the E-mail network (such asthe Internet Global Computer Network) to, for example, the "mailbox"associated with the recipient address 282. The message 270 is retrievedand viewed as discussed above regarding step 812 of FIG. 8. Aspreviously mentioned, FIG. 5 is an exemplary recipient viewed messageportion 272' as would be viewed at an E-mail device 118, with the fieldspopulated with information and data collected, generated, andcommunicated in accordance with the processes described above.

In accordance with an alternate, preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the fax interface device 102 is placed in what might betermed a "series relationship" on communication link 107 between the faxdevice 106 and the public network 108 (as opposed to the configurationof the above described embodiments for which I have used the term"parallel relationship")--an example of this alternate embodiment isfound in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/839,655, filed Apr. 15,1997, the entire specification (including text and drawings) of which ishereby incorporated herein, in its entirety, by this reference.

Whereas the present invention has been depicted and described inrelationship to embodiments in which the fax interface device 102 andthe fax device 106 are embodied in separate chassis interconnected by anaccessory communication line 109, alternate embodiments of thefacsimile-to-electronic mail communication system 100 of the presentinvention comprise a combined unit fax/fax-to E-mail sending device(hereinafter also identified as the "combined unit 358") whichincorporates within a single chassis the functionality of both the faxinterface device 102 and the fax device 106, with necessary componentparts. In a first embodiment of such combined unit 102/106', the faxinterface device 102 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 hereof, is simplyphysically embodied within a single chassis with the fax device 106 ofthe embodiment of FIG. 1, and necessary external modifications are madeto the chassis in order to acquire access to the necessary keypads toeffect operation of the two combined devices within the combined unit.In a preferred embodiment of the combined unit sending device, however,the functionality of the fax interface device 102 and the fax device 106of the embodiment of FIG. 1 hereof are embodied within a single chassisand components which perform duplicate functions are eliminated toprovide an efficiency of structure. With reference to FIG. 13, thispreferred embodiment of the combined unit fax/fax-to-E-mail sendingdevice 358 comprises a single keypad 360 and single display 361, whichreplace the two keypads and two displays of the fax interface device 102and fax device 106. The keypad 360 of the combined unit 358 acts as adual function keypad which accepts user input and interfaces withsoftware logic 364 to alternately perform the functions of a standardfax device keypad or the functions of the fax interface device keypad342. Preferably, the dual function keypad 342 includes all of the dialand function keys necessary to effect the functions of the fax device106 and the fax interface device 102. A physical button (or command key)362 which is software-enabled selectively switches the combined unitsending device 358 between a fax mode (during which the device functionsas a standard fax machine delivering information from a hard copydocument to a remote recipient fax machine) and a fax-to-E-mail mode(during which the information from a hard copy document is sent to itsrecipient via electronic mail, in accordance with previously discussedprocesses of the present invention). When switched to the fax mode, thedual function keypad 360 and display 361 receive and display keypadentries as a standard fax machine, and when the device 358 is in thefax-to-E-mail mode, the dual function keypad 360 and the display device361 receive and display user keypad entries in a manner describedpreviously in connection with the fax interface device 102. In thedrawing of FIG. 13, the number 366 schematically represents the combinedhardware/software functionality of the combined unit sending device 358divided schematically into a fax interface device function 366a and afax device function 366b. These functions are shown in this schematicmanner to represent their separate functionality but their sharing ofcertain operational components. A user desiring to use the combined unitsending device 358 as a standard fax machine, depresses the command keybutton 362 to place the sending device in the fax mode, after which theuser will enter digits at the keypad 360 which will be interpreted asstandard facsimile machine keypad entries, resulting in the receipt anddisplay of a telephone number which number will be sent (throughoperation of the combined units fax device function 366b) alongcommunication line 107 to the public telephone network 108 to effect atelephone connection with a remote fax machine for fax-to-fax deliveryof the hard copy information placed in the device. Other features andfunctionalities which are standard to typical prior art fax machines areacceptably provided. When the user desires to send a hard copy documentto a recipient via electronic mail, the user depresses the command keybutton 362 to switch the combined unit sending device 358 to thefax-to-E-mail mode, in which mode the user entries at the dual functionkeypad 360 are interpreted in accordance with the prior described schemeof the present invention to input and display alphanumeric E-mailaddresses. With reference to the prior disclosure, the combined unitsending device 358 operating through its fax interface devicefunctionality 366a communicates with the FEM-GATEWAY 104 in a mannersimilar to the process described in connection with FIGS. 9A-9Cpreviously. Once the "SEND" key is depressed on the keypad of thecombined unit sending device 358 in response to the prompt at step 950of FIG. 9C, the combined unit sending device switches to the fax devicefunctionality 366b to deliver the fax image data along communicationline 107 to the FEM-GATEWAY 104. The structure and functionality of theFEM-GATEWAY 104 is substantially similar to that previously described inconnection with FIGS. 1-13 and the interactive processes of FIGS.11A-11C are substantially as described previously. Furthermore, theremaining components (E-mail network 116, E-mail Server 120 and E-maildevice 118) of the facsimile-to-E-mail communication system 100" aresubstantially similar to those described in connection with theembodiment of FIGS. 1-13. Further explanation of the hardware andsoftware components of this combined unit fax/fax-to-E-mail sendingdevice 358 is deemed unnecessary, as it will be readily understood bythose skilled in the art having reference to the previous detaileddescriptions of this specification.

While the embodiments of the present invention which have been disclosedherein are the preferred forms, other embodiments of the presentinvention will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art in viewof this disclosure. Therefore, it will be understood that variations andmodifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention and that the scope of the present invention should only belimited by the claims below. Furthermore, the equivalents of allmeans-or-step-plus-function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or acts for performing the function asspecifically claimed and as would be understood by persons skilled inthe art of this disclosure, without suggesting that any of thestructure, material, or acts are more obvious by virtue of theirassociation with other elements.

I claim:
 1. A communication system for communicating information foundoriginally as an image on paper, said system comprising:a firstcommunication network; a facsimile device for generating facsimileinformation in a first format from information found originally as animage on paper, said facsimile device communicating with said firstcommunication network along a first communication Line; a interfacedevice sharing said first communication line with said facsimile device;a computer network; and a server in communication with said firstcommunication network and in communication with said computer network;said server selectively operating in a fax-to-data made in which saidserver receives facsimile information via said first communicationnetwork along said first communication line and communicates datarepresentative of said facsimile information to a destination via saidcomputer network; said server being responsive to commands received oversaid first communication line from said interface device to initiateoperation of said fax-to-data mode.
 2. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising:conversion software associated with said gateway server, saidconversion software converting facsimile information generated by saidfacsimile device into image data in a second format; an electronicmailbox associated with said computer network; and an e-mail deviceconfigured to access information stored in said electronic mailbox, saide-mail device being operable to receive and display on a computer screendata formatted in said second format.
 3. The system of claim 2, furthercomprising encoding means associated with said gateway server forencoding said image data in said second format, said e-mail device beingconfigured to automatically decode said image data in the second formatupon receipt thereof from said mailbox.
 4. The system of claim 1,wherein said interface device includes a display screen constructed andarranged for displaying alphanumeric characters.
 5. The system of claim1, wherein said first communication network is the public telephonenetwork.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein said fax interface device isincorporated as part of said facsimile device.
 7. The system of claim 1,wherein said computer network is a global computer network.
 8. Thesystem of claim 7, wherein said global computer network includes, atleast in part, the internet.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein saidfirst communication network is a private switched telephone network. 10.The system of claim 1, wherein said interface device comprises:means forreceiving and communicating an address associated with an electronicmail address; and means for generating commands on said firstcommunication line.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein said means forreceiving of said interface device includes, at least, a standardtelephone keypad.
 12. A communication system for communicationinformation found originally as an image on paper, said systemcomprising:a public switched telephone network ("PSTN"); a computernetwork; a server in communication with said PSTN and being incommunication with said computer network; a facsimile device forgenerating facsimile information from information found originally as animage on paper, said facsimile device communicating with said PSTN alonga first communication link; and an interface device communicating withsaid PSTN along said first communication link and being responsive tosignals received at said interface device to facilitate communicationbetween said facsimile device and said gateway server and to facilitatedelivery of facsimile information from said facsimile device to ane-mail address associated with the computer network.
 13. A communicationsystem for communicating, with the assistance of a public communicationnetwork ("PN") and a global computer communications network, informationfound originally as an image on paper, said system comprising:a serverin communication with the PN and in communication with the computernetwork; a facsimile device for generating facsimile information frominformation found originally as an image on paper, said facsimile devicecommunicating with PN; an interface device responsive to signalsreceived at said interface device to facilitate communications betweensaid facsimile device and said server and to facilitate delivery offacsimile information from said facsimile device to an e-mail addressassociated with the computer network.